Robert G. (Bob) Mathioudakis

Indianapolis - Bob was born in 1924 to Nick and Lucile Mathioudakis in Ft. Wayne, IN, and died on February 20, 2021. He graduated early from Ft. Wayne North Side High School and joined the US Navy in November 1942 and served in active duty during WW II. He achieved the rank of Radio Man First Class and served one year in the Atlantic Theater and 18 months in the Pacific Theater. His ship was in Tokyo for the signing of the armistice. He was honorably discharged in April 1946.

Bob married Annabel (Ann) Pattison and they were married for over 70 years. He is survived by his loving wife, Ann; four children: Beth, Miki, Mike (JoLee) and Nick (Marilyn) Mathioudakis; eight grandchildren: Michael (Mikayla) Mathioudakis II, Lexi (Collin) Russell, Rob Mathioudakis, Jonathan Mathioudakis, Sophia Mathioudakis, Timothy Mathioudakis, Kristina Mathioudakis, and Joe Mathioudakis; and one great-grandchild: Juniper Russell.

Bob graduated from Ball State in 1949 and taught at Washington Clay High School in South Bend for one year before joining Ohio Oil Company (which became Marathon Petroleum) and retired in 1986. He served in a variety of sales and marketing roles with the company and was known for his colorful sportscoats and a loud laugh.

He was an active member of Saint Andrew Presbyterian in Indianapolis, a member of North Park Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, American Legion Post 497 (Commander 3 times), Veterans of Foreign Wars (past Commander of Post 2985 and current Trustee Post 98), AmVets and the Murat Shrine Legion of Honor (past Commander).

He volunteered with Boy Scouts of America and his sons received their Eagle rank. He was proud to have all 5 grandsons earn the Eagle rank (which required ever vigilant but subtle goading to get them across the line). He coached his sons in basketball, football, and baseball youth programs. He attended all of the plays, musicals, choir performances, athletic events, and other rites of passage of his daughters, sons, and grandchildren and was highly visible in the early days of VHS recording with a camera the size of a TV news camera. Sorry to all those who were blocked behind this wide man as he stood to record these events.

Bob loved his family, Notre Dame football, IU basketball, and the Colts. He is fondly remembered by his children, grandchildren, and others as Papou.

Bob attended an honor flight to Washington DC and enjoyed the celebrity of being a WW II veteran over the last few years. The family is thankful to the many kind people who paid for his and his wife's dinner or bought him a beer when they learned he served in WW II (we used to tease him that his WW II veteran hats were his best investments ever).

His family found a note in his papers that said: "I'm getting so old that my friends in heaven will think I didn't make it." Don't worry, Papou, we know you're with them and Jesus now.

The family is grateful for the wonderful care he received at Ascension St. Vincent, Unit 4 West Medical. Memorials may be made to Ascension St. Vincent acknowledging Unit 4 West Medical and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 98, 5420 W. 34th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46224.

Visitation will be on Sunday, February 28 from 1:30 to 3:00 at Saint Andrew Presbyterian, 3535 W Kessler Blvd N Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46222. Crowd size measures, as well as masks and social distancing, will be required. For safety reasons, the funeral will be limited to family. Arrangements are entrusted to Flanner Buchanan-Washington Park North.

09/18/2022 EJS